Vice-President George Kunda has assured donors of governments commitment to prudently and to effectively use of financial resources.
The Vice- President said the recent reaction against the donor community was a result of the failure by some diplomats to follow the channels of communicating their concerns to Government.
Mr Kunda said Government is committed to good governance, in particular the fight against corruption, adding that it is the reason co-operating partners have continued to render support to Zambia.
The Vice-President said this in Parliament yesterday in response to a question from Mandevu member of Parliament (MP) Jean Kapata (PF).
Ms Kapata wanted to know the current relationship between Government and donors.
Mr Kunda said the relationship between Government and its co-operating partners is warm.
He said co-operating partners have pledged to continue providing financial, material and technical help to Zambia, adding that the relationship will continue to flourish.
“You might have heard in today’s (yesterday) newspapers that the co-operating partners have pledged to continue supporting this country’s developmental programmes. So, you can see that our relationship with donors is still sound,” he said.
Mr Kunda said President Banda’s recent statement about the donor community related to diplomatic etiquette.
[pullquote]
“You might have heard in today’s (yesterday) newspapers that the co-operating partners have pledged to continue supporting this country’s developmental programmes. So, you can see that our relationship with donors is still sound,” he said.[/pullquote]
He accused some diplomats of issuing threats to Government through the media.
Mr Kunda said there are established diplomatic channels through which diplomats can engage Government.
“Let us at all times observe the diplomatic etiquette according to the Geneva Convention. This is what President Banda was talking about recently,” Mr Kunda said.
And Mr Kunda said Government is revising the law on corruption to take into account past experiences.
He said Government is reviewing the law so that corruption cases can be effectively tackled.
Mr Kunda said this in response to a question from Katuba MP Jonas Shakafuswa (MMD), who wanted to know why section 37 of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act relating to abuse of office has been left out in the revised version.
Mr Kunda said he was not aware of Mr Shakafuswa’s claims.
He wondered where Mr Shakafuswa acquired that information when the bill has not yet been tabled before Parliament.
Mr Kunda said it is a criminal offence for any individual to access information which is classified.
He said when the bill is presented to Parliament, MPs will be accorded a chance to submit their comments, adding that it is prejudicial for any MP to make judgement based on a document which has not yet been tabled before the House.
And Mr Kunda said Government is looking for resources to fund the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) to enable it to complete its work.
The Vice-President said this in response to a question by Kalomo UPND MP Request Mutanga, who wanted to know what Government is doing to source funds for the completion of the Constitution-making process.
The NCC on Thursday announced that it requires funding to enable it to publish copies of the draft Constitution to enable members of the public to submit comments.
Mr Kunda said the Constitution-making process is on course, and that Government is doing everything possible to ensure the NCC is adequately funded.
And Mr Kunda said Government regrets the anomalies experienced in the printing of some pay slips for civil servants, resulting in delayed payment of salaries for June.
He said the authorities responsible are doing everything possible to correct the anomalies so that affected workers are paid.
Mr Kunda said this in response to a question from Katombora UPND MP Regina Musokotwane, who wanted to know what Government is doing to ensure workers are paid their salaries.
And Mr Kunda said it is the intention of Government to buy as much maize as possible from farmers in this year’s marketing season.
He said the Food Reserve Agency has been unable to buy maize from some parts of the country mainly because the moisture content of maize is still high.
Mr Kunda said this in response to a question from Pemba UPND MP David Matongo, who wanted to know why FRA has not started buying maize in some districts.
But Mr Kunda said the high moisture content of maize in some parts of the country has slowed down the buying exercise by FRA.
He said as soon as the moisture content meets the required standard, FRA will buy the maize.
And Mr Kunda said the continuous mobile voters’ registration by the Electoral Commission of Zambia will be conducted in all the polling stations across the country.
He said all the polling stations will be captured as the exercise is mobile and continuous.
Mr Kunda said this in response to Chipili PF MP Davies Mwila, who questioned why ECZ has selected a few polling stations to conduct the exercise.
Meanwhile, Mr Kunda said the 7.8 percent inflation rate which the country has recorded will have a positive impact on the economy.
He said the drop in inflation is likely to result in more lending facilities and reduced interest rate.
Mr Kunda was responding to a question by Bahati PF MP Besa Chimbaka, who asked what effect the drop in inflation will have on the economy.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]
This is good veep. Lets continue doing the good job for the Betterment of all Zambians. I salute your Good work. Please don t worry about the profets of Doom!!
Mr VP you are now cleaning RBs Vomit. I wonder what these guys discuss in their cabinet meetings because it seems each of them just vomits out his opinion any how.
Ba veep,you should also deal with the issue of sending politicians to RSA for medical treatment,it is costly and also only benefits the privileged selfish few. From time immemorial, Zambian government Officers in serious life threatening illness have have been known to have sought medical attention from South Africa. You can produce a list on this if you want. This is taxpayers money while the tax payer is to fend for himself or herself when faced with same situation. Their miserable hope comes from the dilapidated, neglected, ill equipped death wall called The UTH.
Seriously LT you need to improve in your investigations and reporting in a story headed ‘Gov’t has reached common ground with donors’ you reported that section 87 of the ACC deals with the abuse of office in above story u are quoting section 37. Which section deals with the abuse of office, or is this privileged information…
Kunda is now trying to clean up RB’s mess. It seems MMD have no co-ordination before a statement is released whichever way. You can well see that each person wants to be the spokes person. Shikapwasha and mulongoti and siliya. They all come up with contradicting statements. What a government. Mabenga and our Malawian William Banda and there comes Oxford educated VJ, everyone of them wants to be president. MMD is a shameless government come 2011 you will be out.
If we were to take stock ofthe amount of money we have spent so far on such treatments, if really we had concerned, patriotic people in government with Zambians’ interests at heart such amounts would have transformed UTH into a proper life saving hospital for all. In Zambia, some animals are certainly more than others. In other words, you the tax payer and the ordinary person do not exist. So many years of independence with no tangible progress. Anyone who visits any of our hospitals and other infrastructures and see government thinking will conclude that TRULY, ZAMBIA IS REAL AFRICA
We are led by selfish, well- dressed *****s, whose aim is to grab anything in their political path while their tenure of office lasts. *****s who put their comfort before duty and gain before peoples lives
you are right zodwa, I wish many zedians had the same mind and heart
Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe’s caution to Zambians immediately after the country got its independence from Britain, was ”not to mismanage their freedom or the colonialists would come back”. A situation that had now become a reality.
This is a better tone than the arrogance we witnessed from the other actors.
Flip-flop……………………..!
# 7 WELL SAID
Politicians especially africans have not shown any resilience from stealing big time from their governments and their people they claim to lead. The truth is coming out slowly but surely about our so called MMD! RB has no heart for Zambia thats why he has turned Mfuwe into a place to hide his loot. Who thought there would be underground tunnels in Mfuwe full of trunks of money? Everybody has learnt a lesson from FTJ’s loosing his foreign hiden loot. Guys you will be shocked in the upcoming weeks how RB and Katele differed on the Mfuwe tunnels and led to his corruption charges stepped up by the MMD “True Blue”! If you knew what I know now, there would be riots across Zambia!
“..Mr Kunda said Government is committed to good governance, in particular the fight against corruption…”
untruthful and corrupt govt !!!
President Rupiah Banda who claims to be the champion in the fight against corruption in the Zambian media or international institutions, has finally dissolved the Committee of Investigation (Task Force) on corruption in September 2009, after Director Maxwell Nkole was sacked for appealing upon the acquittal of former Zambian President Chibula on suspicion of corruption. However, one example among many others, the commission had investigated in 2007 on a diversion of $ 100 million at the expense of ZCCM. His investigations had helped to identify those responsible and the banks which received the stolen funds
(continued)
but as surprising as it sounds, no restitution process has been initiated ! $ 100 million !!!! WHY???
Lusaka times july 1, 2010
“…Highly placed sources at the commission have revealed to QFM that the commission has not received any funding from the government since March.
And the sources who sought anonymity for fear of losing their jobs further said the allocation of funds to the commission by the government is not adequate.
They said calls by some opposition political parties that government considers increasing funding to the Anti Corruption Commission in order to enable it fight corruption effectively are genuine, adding such calls should not be politicized.
They revealed that since the commission was formed, government funding has been inadequate for it
to operate effectively.
The sources further said the inadequate allocation of funds to ACC has made operations at the commission complicated.
They hailed stakeholders who are calling for the government to allocate more funds to the commission, urging them to continue pushing the government to do so…..”
We need make a CLEAN SWEEP !!
MMD is here to stay and if you have a problem call me at the embassy so we can argue as grown ups. Call the embassy number and ask for me if you are man enough: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20008-2851
Phone number: (202) 265-9717 OR better yet leave your email comments here: [email protected]
Mwata #16, this is no time to start creating fan clubs! Let’s discuss issues here and now. Whether MMD is here to stay or not will be proven 2011. I for one know that if all will be free and fair, MMD is headed for the exit.
Enjoy it while it lasts.
# 17 Go to Hell
I wasnt addressing you and your kaponyalism so dont comment on my intelllectual threads!
#18 Mwata says- This an open forum so if you think we shall not comment on your shit you are wron. MMD is trying to remove article 37 of the ACC which makes receiving bribes, using ones office for personal advantage, living beyond ones salary etc a crime. And can you say the ACC will have any meaning? You are doing this because of the crimes you have commited. We shall get you.